UI/UX Designer

UI/​UX Designer

A skill that helps design beautiful, accessible UI components following the established design system.

Trigger Phrases

This skill activates when the user wants to design UI components:

• "design a component"
• "create a button/​card/​form"
• "make this look better"
• "design UI for"
• "help me design"
• "build a UI component"

Instructions

When this skill is invoked, follow these steps to create beautiful, accessible UI components:

Step 1: Understand the Component Requirements

Ask the user (if not already specified):

1. Component type: What UI element needs to be designed? (button, card, form, navigation, modal, etc.)
2. Purpose: What is the component's function?
3. Content: What content will it display?
4. Variant: Primary, secondary, or custom styling?
5. Interactivity: Does it need hover states, animations, or transitions?

Step 2: Reference the Design System

Always reference the design system from CLAUDE.md:

Color Palette

• Primary (Blue): Use --color-primary-500 for main actions and links
• Secondary (Purple): Use --color-secondary-500 for accents and secondary actions
• Neutrals: Use --bg-primary, --bg-secondary, --text-primary, --text-secondary
• Status Colors: Use --color-success, --color-error, --color-warning, --color-info for feedback

Spacing Scale (8px base unit)

• Component padding: --space-2 to --space-4 (8-16px)
• Element spacing: --space-4 to --space-6 (16-32px)
• Section spacing: --space-8 to --space-12 (48-128px)

Typography

• Headings: Use --text-xl to --text-5xl with --font-semibold or --font-bold
• Body text: Use --text-base to --text-lg with --font-normal
• Small text: Use --text-sm or --text-xs
• Line heights: Use --leading-normal for body, --leading-tight for headings

Step 3: Design with Accessibility in Mind

Ensure all components meet accessibility standards:

1. Color Contrast: Maintain WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text)
2. Keyboard Navigation: Include :focus states with visible focus indicators
3. ARIA Labels: Add appropriate aria-label, aria-labelledby, or aria-describedby
4. Semantic HTML: Use proper HTML elements (<button>, <nav>, <form>, etc.)
5. Focus Management: Ensure logical tab order
6. Screen Readers: Include descriptive text for icons and interactive elements

Step 4: Generate HTML Structure

Create semantic, clean HTML:

<!-- Use semantic elements -->
<!-- Include ARIA labels where appropriate -->
<!-- Structure content logically -->
<!-- Add meaningful class names (BEM convention preferred) -->

Step 5: Generate CSS Styles

Create styles using the design system:

/​* Use CSS custom properties */
/​* Follow the spacing scale */
/​* Add smooth transitions */
/​* Include hover/​focus/​active states */
/​* Support dark mode with [data-theme="dark"] */

Step 6: Add Interactivity (if needed)

If the component requires JavaScript:

// Use vanilla JavaScript
// Add event listeners
// Handle state changes
// Store preferences in localStorage if needed

Component Templates

Button Component

<button class="btn btn-primary">
  Click Me
</​button>

.btn {
  padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-6);
  font-size: var(--text-base);
  font-weight: var(--font-medium);
  border-radius: 0.5rem;
  border: none;
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: all 0.2s ease;
}

.btn:focus {
  outline: 2px solid var(--color-primary-500);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

.btn-primary {
  background: var(--color-primary-500);
  color: white;
}

.btn-primary:hover {
  background: var(--color-primary-600);
  transform: translateY(-1px);
  box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 102, 204, 0.3);
}

.btn-primary:active {
  transform: translateY(0);
}

Card Component

<article class="card">
  <img src="image.jpg" alt="Descriptive alt text" class="card-image">
  <div class="card-content">
    <h3 class="card-title">Card Title</​h3>
    <p class="card-description">Card description text goes here.</​p>
    <div class="card-tags">
      <span class="badge">Tag 1</​span>
      <span class="badge">Tag 2</​span>
    </​div>
  </​div>
</​article>

.card {
  background: var(--bg-secondary);
  border: 1px solid var(--border-color);
  border-radius: 1rem;
  overflow: hidden;
  transition: transform 0.2s ease, box-shadow 0.2s ease;
}

.card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-4px);
  box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}

[data-theme="dark"] .card:hover {
  box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
}

.card-image {
  width: 100%;
  height: 200px;
  object-fit: cover;
}

.card-content {
  padding: var(--space-5);
}

.card-title {
  font-size: var(--text-xl);
  font-weight: var(--font-semibold);
  margin-bottom: var(--space-3);
  color: var(--text-primary);
}

.card-description {
  font-size: var(--text-base);
  color: var(--text-secondary);
  line-height: var(--leading-relaxed);
  margin-bottom: var(--space-4);
}

.card-tags {
  display: flex;
  gap: var(--space-2);
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

Form Input Component

<div class="form-group">
  <label for="email" class="form-label">Email Address</​label>
  <input
    type="email"
    id="email"
    class="form-input"
    placeholder="[email protected]"
    aria-describedby="email-hint"
    required
  >
  <span id="email-hint" class="form-hint">We'll never share your email.</​span>
</​div>

.form-group {
  margin-bottom: var(--space-5);
}

.form-label {
  display: block;
  font-size: var(--text-sm);
  font-weight: var(--font-medium);
  color: var(--text-primary);
  margin-bottom: var(--space-2);
}

.form-input {
  width: 100%;
  padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-4);
  font-size: var(--text-base);
  background: var(--bg-primary);
  border: 2px solid var(--border-color);
  border-radius: 0.5rem;
  color: var(--text-primary);
  transition: border-color 0.2s ease, box-shadow 0.2s ease;
}

.form-input:focus {
  outline: none;
  border-color: var(--color-primary-500);
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(0, 102, 204, 0.1);
}

.form-input::placeholder {
  color: var(--text-tertiary);
}

.form-hint {
  display: block;
  font-size: var(--text-xs);
  color: var(--text-tertiary);
  margin-top: var(--space-2);
}

Navigation Component

<nav class="nav" role="navigation" aria-label="Main navigation">
  <a href="#home" class="nav-link">Home</​a>
  <a href="#projects" class="nav-link">Projects</​a>
  <a href="#about" class="nav-link">About</​a>
  <a href="#contact" class="nav-link">Contact</​a>
  <button class="theme-toggle" aria-label="Toggle dark mode">
    <span class="icon">🌙</​span>
  </​button>
</​nav>

.nav {
  display: flex;
  gap: var(--space-6);
  align-items: center;
  padding: var(--space-4) var(--space-6);
}

.nav-link {
  font-size: var(--text-base);
  font-weight: var(--font-medium);
  color: var(--text-secondary);
  text-decoration: none;
  transition: color 0.2s ease;
  position: relative;
}

.nav-link:hover {
  color: var(--text-primary);
}

.nav-link:focus {
  outline: 2px solid var(--color-primary-500);
  outline-offset: 4px;
  border-radius: 4px;
}

.nav-link::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  bottom: -4px;
  left: 0;
  width: 0;
  height: 2px;
  background: var(--color-primary-500);
  transition: width 0.2s ease;
}

.nav-link:hover::after {
  width: 100%;
}

.theme-toggle {
  background: var(--bg-secondary);
  border: 2px solid var(--border-color);
  border-radius: 50%;
  width: 40px;
  height: 40px;
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: all 0.2s ease;
}

.theme-toggle:hover {
  transform: scale(1.1);
  border-color: var(--color-primary-500);
}

Modal Component

<div class="modal" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="modal-title" aria-modal="true">
  <div class="modal-overlay"></​div>
  <div class="modal-content">
    <button class="modal-close" aria-label="Close modal">
      &times;
    </​button>
    <h2 id="modal-title" class="modal-title">Modal Title</​h2>
    <p class="modal-body">Modal content goes here.</​p>
    <div class="modal-actions">
      <button class="btn btn-primary">Confirm</​button>
      <button class="btn btn-outline">Cancel</​button>
    </​div>
  </​div>
</​div>

.modal {
  position: fixed;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  z-index: 1000;
  opacity: 0;
  pointer-events: none;
  transition: opacity 0.3s ease;
}

.modal.active {
  opacity: 1;
  pointer-events: auto;
}

.modal-overlay {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
}

.modal-content {
  position: relative;
  background: var(--bg-primary);
  border-radius: 1rem;
  padding: var(--space-6);
  max-width: 500px;
  width: 90%;
  box-shadow: 0 20px 60px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
  transform: scale(0.9);
  transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

.modal.active .modal-content {
  transform: scale(1);
}

.modal-close {
  position: absolute;
  top: var(--space-4);
  right: var(--space-4);
  background: none;
  border: none;
  font-size: var(--text-2xl);
  color: var(--text-secondary);
  cursor: pointer;
  line-height: 1;
}

.modal-title {
  font-size: var(--text-2xl);
  font-weight: var(--font-bold);
  margin-bottom: var(--space-4);
  color: var(--text-primary);
}

.modal-actions {
  display: flex;
  gap: var(--space-3);
  justify-content: flex-end;
  margin-top: var(--space-6);
}

Best Practices

Design

• Consistency: Always use the design system colors, spacing, and typography
• Whitespace: Use generous spacing for a clean, modern look
• Hierarchy: Create clear visual hierarchy with size, weight, and color
• Responsive: Design mobile-first, then enhance for larger screens
• Dark Mode: Test all components in both light and dark themes

Accessibility

• Contrast: Ensure text contrast meets WCAG AA (4.5:1 minimum)
• Focus States: Always include visible focus indicators
• Keyboard Nav: Make all interactive elements keyboard accessible
• ARIA: Use ARIA labels for icon buttons and complex widgets
• Semantic HTML: Use proper HTML5 elements

Performance

• CSS Variables: Use custom properties for themeable values
• Transitions: Keep animations under 300ms for snappiness
• Images: Optimize and use appropriate sizes
• Reusability: Create modular, reusable components

Code Quality

• BEM Naming: Use Block Element Modifier convention (e.g., .card__title--large)
• Mobile First: Write base styles for mobile, then use min-width media queries
• Comments: Add comments for complex CSS or non-obvious decisions
• Organization: Group related styles together

Responsive Breakpoints

Use these breakpoints for responsive design:

/​* Mobile: default styles */

/​* Tablet */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  /​* Tablet styles */
}

/​* Desktop */
@media (min-width: 1024px) {
  /​* Desktop styles */
}

/​* Large Desktop */
@media (min-width: 1440px) {
  /​* Large desktop styles */
}

Animation Patterns

Fade In

@keyframes fadeIn {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
  }
}

.fade-in {
  animation: fadeIn 0.3s ease-out;
}

Slide Up

@keyframes slideUp {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: translateY(20px);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: translateY(0);
  }
}

.slide-up {
  animation: slideUp 0.4s ease-out;
}

Scale In

@keyframes scaleIn {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: scale(0.9);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: scale(1);
  }
}

.scale-in {
  animation: scaleIn 0.3s ease-out;
}

Notes

• Always read CLAUDE.md before designing to reference the current design system
• Test components in both light and dark modes
• Validate HTML and check accessibility with tools like axe DevTools
• Keep components modular and reusable
• Use semantic HTML5 elements for better SEO and accessibility
• Include smooth transitions for interactive states
• Optimize for performance (minimize repaints/​reflows)
• Follow the minimal, modern aesthetic of the portfolio
• Use vanilla JavaScript for any interactivity (no frameworks)